Taking Ishmael

The victorious completion of the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-74. In favor of Russia brought the country's way out to the Black Sea coast, although under the terms of the Kuchuk-Karnadzhi Treaty the Ishmael fortress, located in the Danube estuary, remained Turkish. Later, Turkey, supported by France and England, demanded a review of the treaty, making demands for the return of the Crimea and the Caucasus, and also demanded that all agreements be invalidated.

The Turks planned to defeat Sevastopol with the naval base of the Russian fleet, land a large landing force in the Crimea and capture Kherson and Kinburn. To deploy such large-scale military actions, the plans of the Turkish command included the landing of troops in Anapa and Sukhumi. At that time, Turkey possessed a strong, well-trained 200,000-strong army, and also had a powerful fleet consisting of battleships, frigates, corvettes and a large number of ships and supply vessels.

In contrast, Russia exhibited two armies: Ekaterinoslav and Ukrainian, as well as the Black Sea fleet. Austria was the helper of Russia in this war. The plan consisted of an invasion of Turkish territory and was offensive. The troops planned to seize Khotin, Ochakov, cross the Dnieper, clear the area between the Prut and the Dniester from the Turks.

After successful military actions, there were all prerequisites for the completion of the war and the signing of peace for Russia, but politicians missed a favorable moment. The Turks collected new troops, enlisted the support of Western countries, as a result of which the war dragged on.

General-Anshef Suvorov AV, participating in the Russo-Turkish War of 1787-92, conducted a siege, storming and taking the fortress of Ismail in 1790. The defeat of the Turkish fleet in the Kerch Strait, the firm dominance of the Russian flotilla in the Black Sea, and offensive operations on the Danube made it possible to plan an offensive against the Turkish fortress of Ishmael on the left bank, and later it was decided to transfer the military operations beyond the Danube.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Army, Field Marshal General Potemkin, GA Ordered to storm this fortress. This task could not be solved by the famous commanders, Izmail did not yield to Potemkin himself. After vain attempts, Suvorov was assigned to the operation. By this time, the impregnable fortress was rebuilt and prepared for new attacks on the latest technology of those times. It was believed that the capture of Ishmael is impossible.

Previously, Alexander Vasilyevich went to the commandant of the fortress with a proposal to surrender, to which the pasha responded with a refusal. The commander began serious preparation for the assault and counted on taking Ishmael. Military exercises were conducted on mock-ups of the high walls of the fortress. The soldiers trained for 6 days on dug and built up wooden and earth analogues of walls and ditches. They were bombarded with a fascinator, fast ladders were quickly installed to climb walls, fixed stuffed animals simulating the enemy, they were cut and bogged down.

General preparations were made for the capture of Ishmael, which was directly inspected by Suvorov himself. An experienced commander was pleased with the conduct of the exercise, realizing that a real assault would be extremely difficult and serious. Even it was difficult for him to foresee all the situations that, undoubtedly, can arise during the battle.

The undefeated citadel was a grandiose structure. Despite this, as well as the determination of the enemy, the assault and capture of the fortress of Ishmael passed in just one day. The Turks suffered significant losses compared to the Russians, although their numbers were more than tenfold. Many of the military became famous during this operation and later won numerous victories.

Contemporaries of the time were shocked, as the capture of Ishmael, and this assault is permanently imprinted in history. Thanks to the outcome of this battle, the Russians received, after taking Ishmael, possession on the Black Sea coast, stretching from the Dniester to the Kuban.